New Delhi: When we talk about the business houses in India, Tata group has always been on top. The Indian business conglomerate has been serving people way before the Independence. The Tata Group was founded by Jamshetji Tata in 1868. Today, it is perceived as India’s best known global brand as per an ASSOCHAM survey.

In fact, the group has contributed big to giving India a new direction. As India got independence in 1947, Tata group was the first company to have diversified into various sectors like engineering, IT, hospitality, FMCG, Consumer Durables, Hospitality to fulfil the need of people.

The success of Tata group is appreciable as it has not made compromise on ethics and integrity. It also believes in the philosophy of giving back to the society and in the Corporate Social Responsibility. It has always been a dream organisation for employees. The HR practices and career progression in Tata group is the best one.

The successful journey of more than hundred years is a testimony to the top able leadership. The group is family owned business with majority of stakes being held by the Tata family.

The business conglomerate has been blessed with so many leaders of exceptional capabilities. While Jamshetji was phenomenal in laying a strong foundation, JRD Tata was instrumental in expanding the business and helped in earning the group an international recognition. Continuing the legacy, Ratan Tata took the group to global stage with many aggressive acquisitions. Today, the group is again witnessing leadership change as Ratan Tata retired from the Tata Group chairman on Friday. Now, in a changed scenario, Cyrus Mistry has been entrusted with the task of lead the Group. Mistry belongs to the family of Shapoorji Pallonji who are the largest private shareholder of the group’s holding company Tata Sons.

Ratan Tata served as Tata group Chairman for more than two decades. His regime is outstanding from the view that when he got into the driving seat in 1991, it was also a transformation phase for India. With many MNCs entering into India in the globalised era, Tata Group went overseas and acquired major companies like steelmaker Corus and Jaguar LandRover. Ratan Tata was busy expanding the business overseas and very much connected to the Indian masses. With the famous philanthropic knack with all Tata leaders, Ratan Tata was not short of it and surprised everyone by announcing that he is going to offer a car in just one Lakh. It was his ability to feel for the dream of Indian population to own a car that he eventually got success in rolling out car for the price just above one Lakh. The prototype of Tata Nano was a big surprise for global auto market. It was like a magic and people’s fantasies was well addressed.

As well when we saw the numbers, it revealed eulogy for Ratan Tata. When he had taken the responsibility of the oldest business empire, the turnover of Tata group was at Rs 10,000 crore in 1991. Now, as he hands over the charge to his successor, the group’s revenue has grown to Rs 475,721 crore in 2011-12.

Apart from the extraordinary growth the group witnessed under Ratan Tata, he is being praised for his integrity, courtesy, grace and humility. The traits of humility, courtesy and grace are quite synonymous with the leaders of Tata Group and with their philanthropic activities.

Now, Ratan Tata’s successor Cyrus Mistry has long task ahead to steer the Indian MNC into one of the top companies of the world. Cyrus Mistry was unanimously elected to succeed Ratan Tata a year back. Since then, Ratan Tata has been grooming him for the post of group chairman.

To mark peaceful retirement, Ratan Tata has plans to brush up his piano skills he learnt during school days. We wish him all the best!